Chapter 60

### Slow-Cooked Hamburger

On an autumn day in the ancient capital, which often sees a lot of rain, the sky occasionally clears up with a bright sun.

The sunlight is weak, and one still needs a coat, but it is still a welcome change.

On such days, the locals call it a "preparation day for winter confinement," a time to gather firewood and repair roofs.

Today, Eifa is more enthusiastic than usual, diligently cleaning the shop.

It's a beautiful day, but in the izakaya (Japanese pub) "Bu," a drunk customer has been sitting with a glass in hand since the morning.

It's Alnu.

Holding a bundle of parchment, he has been muttering to himself for a while.

"Alnu, shouldn't you stop now?"

"Shinobu, this is just the first glass. The first glass."

Even without being told, Shinobu knows this better than anyone.

Alnu, who is incredibly strong in a fight, is a complete lightweight when it comes to alcohol. He becomes tipsy after just a few sips of beer.

When she saw him walking pitifully down the stable street, she decided to call out to him, but she didn't expect him to be in such a bad state.

The cause was a letter he had exchanged with the bard Clovinkel.

"They say other people have unique and interesting qualities."

Shinobu isn't listening to all of Alnu's mutterings, but it seems he had written a very clear opinion.

Nobu, who is Japanese like Shinobu, is making a sauce in the pot without saying a word, but his expression is complex.

Shinobu and Nobu can't judge the quality of Alnu's poetry, but the old bard Clovinkel, who enjoyed the dashimaki tamago (rolled egg omelet), had a very beautiful and resonant voice.

In comparison, Alnu's poetry seems to lack something.

"Did Mr. Clovinkel say something to you?"

Unable to bear it any longer, Shinobu spoke up, and Alnu nodded slightly.

His dejected look is a far cry from the confident stance he takes when defeating ruffians.

"He said, 'You know the words well. Your choice of rhymes is not bad. Your knowledge of ancient poetry forms is quite deep. However, your poetry lacks the essential colors, which is a matter of talent, not something that can be overcome with effort.'"

"What did you say to that?"

"I said, 'I will spend the rest of my life banging my head against the wall.'"

Shinobu barely managed to suppress a laugh.

"It's not a laughing matter, Shinobu. I really want to be a bard."

"Even if it's difficult?"

"According to Mr. Clovinkel, my poetry is an escape. It's clear that I'm writing to avoid the things I should really be doing. That's how the great master sees it. He's a great teacher, indeed."

The old bard was indeed a formidable figure.

He could discern the nuances in Nobu's cooking with just two bites.

Since that incident, Nobu no longer serves experimental dishes in the shop. Even if a dish looks unconventional, he won't serve it until he is satisfied with the taste.

Shinobu's tongue is the final judge.

When they decided to continue running the izakaya "Bu" in the ancient capital, Nobu placed more emphasis on honing his skills as a chef rather than on novelty.

The old man was certainly one of the reasons, but there might have been other factors that Shinobu was unaware of.

"So, what are you going to do now?"

Alnu's response was not in words but in the sound of beer being swallowed.

There are days when one wants to drown in alcohol.

Shinobu shrugged slightly. She might need to ask Isaac to come and pick him up later.

Just as the delicious aroma from Nobu's pot began to waft through the air, the glass door opened hesitantly.

Two cute customers peeked in.

"Is this Eifa's shop?"

"Is it?"

"Yes, it is. Welcome."

"Welcome."

"Welcome!"

Eifa, who usually greets customers, is also here today.

It's no wonder, as these two customers are Eifa's younger brother and sister, Arudolf and Angelica.

Both have red hair like Eifa and are dressed up for the occasion.

Shinobu and Nobu had heard from the two mercenaries that Eifa had bought them clothes with the money she earned from the izakaya.

They didn't come to play.

They wanted to thank Eifa for the souvenirs she always brings them. For children around ten years old, it's a mature thought, but perhaps it's normal in this world.

Six-year-old Angelica is still dragging a stuffed animal, but her big eyes are full of curiosity. She seems to be as smart as Eifa.

"This is a thank you for always taking care of my sister. Please enjoy it."

"Please enjoy it!"

Arudolf handed over a beggar's bag containing a small apple and a potato. The potato, still covered in dirt, is smaller than those in Japan but is of good quality.

"Thank you. We will cherish it."

Shinobu spoke to the children as if they were adults.

When she handed the bag of potatoes to Nobu, he nodded in approval.

"You even included an apple."

Potatoes stored with apples stay fresh longer. This wisdom seems to be common in both Japan and the ancient capital.

"Please, customers, this way."

Eifa, who is showing her younger siblings how hard she works, is more enthusiastic than usual. She even helps Angelica, who can't reach the high counter chairs, which shows she is observant of her customers.

"Ah, but we came to say thank you."

Eifa forcibly seated the flustered Arudolf.

"We can't let someone who came to say thank you leave without offering them anything."

Shinobu, leaving the service to the mature Eifa, inspected the potatoes again.

The shape is closer to a Meikwain than a Maris Piper. Whether they are fluffy like a Maris Piper or hold their shape when cooked like a Meikwain can only be determined by cooking them.

"Boss, since we got these potatoes, can we use them for something?"

While covering the completely drunk Alnu with a towel blanket, she asked, and it seemed Nobu had the same idea.

"Sure. Let's use them as a side dish."